Truth and Lies (Proverbs 12:17-22)

There is one way to know the state of a man's heart. You listen to his words. It may take a while, but the intent of a man's heart will be made known by the subject of his conversation.

"He who breathes out truth shows forth righteousness - uprightness and right standing with God; but a false witness utters deceit." Proverbs 12:17, Amplified

I like reading this verse. "He who breathes out truth..." When truth becomes so much a part of our being, we actually live it and breathe it. Truth should be a second nature, just like breathing. But a man of wicked intentions cannot help but to utter evil and deceit. To not be in tune with what the Lord wants for our lives, we then have to align ourselves with something else. If we are not for God then we are for the world, and the world has nothing for us but deceit.

"There are those who speak rashly like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18, Amplified

The book of James has one chapter dedicated to the tongue. It is a small but powerful muscle. To not think about what is going to be said can be like cutting someone to the heart. There are those out there who do not think before they speak, therefore they end up wounding more than making friends.

The wise tongue, however, brings about healing. Now I want whoever reads this to understand that the wise tongue can cut as well. The wise tongue speaks truth, and the truth sometimes hurts. But the cutting of the wise tongue is more like a surgeon's scalpel. The truth needs to cut out the lie.

"Truthful lips shall be established for ever, but a lying tongue is [credited] but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19, Amplified

The truth lasts forever, it does not change. Therefore the truthful person shall benefit from this; he too shall be established forever. But the one who speaks lies may get to where he is going. He may even establish himself for a while. But in the end, the truth will always win out. A man who lies needs to constantly lie to cover up lies, so his foundation becomes shaky because he must remember all the lies he has told. But the man who tells the truth does not need to remember anything he has said, because it is the truth.

"Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but to the counselors of peace is joy." Proverbs 12:20, Amplified

One problem with being deceitful is thinking that everyone one else thinks as you do. But those who bring peace to others, by speaking truth, have joy of heart.

"No [actual] evil, misfortune or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune and calamity." Proverbs 12:21, Amplified

This verse is speaking of the deliverance that comes from the Lord. If we were to read the Psalms, we might wonder if this verse is contradictory. David always wrote about the suffering that he endured, but he always spoke of the deliverance and the goodness of the Lord. Paul was another an of God who understood suffering. "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom." (II Timothy 4:18a, NKJV)

"Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal truly are His delight." Proverbs 12:22, Amplified

Those who lie are disgusting to the Lord because they go against what the Lord is. He is truth. Those who speak the truth are His delight because they glorify God in their speech and deeds and conversation. The Lord hates lying lips, they are the direct opposite of who He is.

Truth is Devastating (Proverbs 12:15-16)

In the eyes of a fool, his ways are always right. I know that in your lifetime you have come across those people who you just cannot get to change their minds. I am not talking about standing up for what you believe in because this is admirable. I am talking about when you know that person is wrong, and everyone else knows that they are wrong, but nothing can be done or said to convince them otherwise.

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise." Proverbs 12:15, Amplified

It is okay to think that you are right. There is no sin in thinking that you are right. It is when we are proven wrong that we must acclimate to the truth. Listen to that wise counsel when it comes your way. Remember, wisdom is knowledge applied. Take that new knowledge and apply it to your being. Truth is devastating, it radically changes you.

"The fool's wrath is quickly and openly known; but a prudent man ignores an insult." Proverbs 12:16, Amplified

The way a foolish and a wise man deal with daily life is vastly different. For instance, a prudent (or wise) man ignores insults that may be thrown at him. The heart knows the contents of a man. In other words, you know who you are, why defend it by hurling back insults? But the foolish man knows what is in his own heart. The truth is a devastating thing, it radically exposes.

Fruit of the Righteous and Works of the Wicked (Proverbs 12:12-14)

We have one of two options in this life. We can either bear fruit of ourselves or become the hunter. To choose the former is to accept the life the Lord has for us. And to choose the latter, we become Cain, a man who offered the Lord the work of his own hand.

"The wicked desires the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fuitage]." Proverbs 12:12, Amplified

In all pirate stories we have read over the years, we find that there is often a mutiny on board because the crew covet the riches of the captain. They want more and more. I think this was well displayed for us in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Evil men work for what they get and have to stay on guard, for there are others who covet what they have. In guarding your possessions all the time, you have no time to enjoy them. The new game to play is making sure that no one else can enjoy them.

However the root of the righteous yields much fruit. The righteous are rooted in the Lord. He is their supplier. In the nutrients that He gives, they are able to bear fruit. Have you ever seen a tree guard its fruit? That would be a silly thing. You see there is a extreme difference here. Evil men hide and hoard. The righteous man is placed here on earth to feed others. The fruit on the tree is not meant to nourish the tree, but to feed others. All the nutrients the tree needs are found in the soil that it is rooted in.

As long as we are planted in the Word of God, then we are getting all the nutrients that we need. From this symbiotic relationship, we then bear fruit for others to partake of.

"The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgressions of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble." Proverbs 12:13, Amplified

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, NKJV) It is true, what is placed in the heart is stored and will eventually find its way out. You have heard that one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. Once we open our mind to influences outside of the Lord, we risk that spoilage.

If we fill ourselves with the Lord and Him alone, the abundance of our heart will always deliver us. "But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13: 11, NKJV)

"From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and work of a man's hand will come back to him." Proverbs 12:14, Amplified

The man who trusts in the Lord will always be satisfied from the Lord. When we are planted in the Lord, we ooze the goodness of the Lord. As good leaves us, good is returned. I understand that the life of a Christian is littered with many stories of sorrow and tribulation. The satisfaction we receive is being able to see the Lord in everything, including the bad. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

We cannot get the second half of this verse confused with verse 12 in this devotion. A wicked man seeks to satisfy himself with the work of his own hand. However, a man of God uses the works of his hands to glorify his God. Those works will come back to bless that man.

Tilling for Satisfaction (Proverbs 12:11)

The Lord blesses those who work for what they get. I am in no way saying that people who come from money are not blessed by the Lord. Having money or no money, the Lord still wants us to use our hands.

"He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits is lacking in sense and without understanding." Proverbs 12:11, Amplified

It is in the nature of man to do nothing. I would much rather not work. But I know my own heart would be consumed by a worthless pursuit. Does this mean that I am without sense? No. I have the sense and understanding enough to know that I must work and stay busy.

As of right now, I am not making a whole lot of money where I work. In fact it is about half the income that I am used to bringing home. I till my land by going to work everyday. In doing so, the Lord has blessed me with the ability to pay my bills, my mortgage, have food on my table for my family and clothes on our backs.

If I were to allow my heart to follow its own desires and lusts, I would lose everything. I pray the Lord give me the strength to make it through each day. His grace is enough for me.

Kindness (Proverbs 12:10)

It is in the nature of the righteous to be kind. However, the wicked know not how to be kind.

"A [consistently] righteous man regards the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10, Amplified

There is not much that I am inspired to write about this verse. The only thing that I am reminded of here is the young boy with a magnifying glass over the ant hill.

One of the laws concerning animals can be found in Deuteronomy, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." (25:4, NKJV) This is to allow the ox to satisfy its hunger as it worked. To muzzle the ox was to enact cruelty upon it by denying it food.

The wicked do not know how to show kindness the way the Lord has prescribed it. It seems that the world in general has developed its own ways of showing kindness. Even these new kind gestures are cruel in the eyes of the Lord.

Finding Honor (Proverbs 12:9)

In this life there are so many different people trying to make themselves bigger than what they really are.

"Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support, than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread." Proverbs 12:9, Amplified

Now if you are reading from the New King James version of the Bible, you will have a slightly different translation in the first half of the verse. It reads, "Better is the one who is slighted yet has a servant..." This does not make a difference in translation of the verse, for the idea is still there. To be lightly esteemed is to lightly honored. If one is due honor and not receive that honor is slighted. Or it could be someone in that place in life that does not receive very much honor.

To work for one's own support and having a servant may seem like polar opposites. However if we look at it a little differently we will find they are not so far apart. Remember, I stated that the idea was still the same. The one who works for his own support and the one with a servant have the same thing in common; they both have what they need to live. Though the one who works for his own support may not have a servant, he is not going hungry, just as the one with the servant is not going hungry.

Both these men are better than the one who honors himself and is lacking bread. There are those out there who would rather receive that pat on the back than bread in their bellies. "...honor is not fitting for a fool." (Proverbs 26:1b, NKJV) If honor is due, then honor will find you.

Do Not Wallow in the Glory (Proverbs 12:8)

With wisdom comes a commendation of sorts. Wisdom is knowledge, and with that knowledge there is a responsibility to use what you know accordingly.

"A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised." Proverbs 12:8, Amplified

To be commended for what you know is a great thing. It is an acknowledgment. I know in a few occasions that I have been called in to help out in a pinch. The knowledge that I had in a kitchen was used to bring about a favorable outcome. I was commended for that knowledge. (Remember that wisdom is knowledge applied.)

But we also have a responsibility to react accordingly. We can either chalk it up as a gift from the Lord and focus the praise on Him, or we can bask in the glory for that moment. the one who is of a perverse heart will wallow in that glory for a while. Soon it will smell like a pig pen. Glory, unduly retained, soon turns to muck. This wallower will find every opportunity to remind you of how he or she was able to save the day. Sin is merely taking what the Lord has given us and turning the focus away from him. Take for instance sex. It is a beautiful thing given to us by God for the purpose of procreation, but the sinful nature of man has made a booming market out of pornography.

The commendation that is received must be deferred to God. Yes we are the vessel that He chose, but there are many other vessels to choose from. Remember that the cup that sits on the king's table has the same purpose as the cup on the beggars table. They are both put there to serve. After either one is used, there is a gratification in the spirit of the man, and the cup will be used again.

The House of the Righteous (Proverbs 12:7)

The foundation of the righteous is none other that Jesus, the firm Rock.

"The wicked are overthrown and are not, but the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall stand." Proverbs 12:7, Amplified

I had an interesting thought enter my mind as I read this verse this morning. The righteous and the wicked both have the same trials to go through. They both live on the same earth. Both have the same end, death. So what causes the righteous to stand in the face of trials? I cannot help but to revisit the Gospel of Matthew 6. Jesus is telling his disciples about the wise and foolish builders. The wise (or righteous) builder dug down and built upon the rock. That rock is Jesus Christ.

A prayer, a decision, a lifestyle separate the righteous and the wicked. A decision, a lifestyle, a prayer is the foundation of the righteous. A lifestyle, a prayer, a decision is what the wicked is lacking.

Alternatives (Proverbs 12:6)

The mouth always speaks what is stored in the heart. The heart is teeming with thoughts and desires, so much so that it spills into the reality of our lives. If we wish to conceal what is in the heart, we can only do so for so long before that dam gives way and we flood the conversation with the contents of our heart.

"The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the righteous will deliver them and the innocent ones [thus endangered]." Proverbs 12:6, Amplified

The wicked wish to lie in wait for the of the innocent. This takes planning and patience. It also involves an ambush of sorts. The heart of the wicked will always give them away, there is not enough camouflage in the world to conceal it. The terrorists in the Middle East claim to have a religion of peace, but the contents of the heart have given them away. America was taken off guard and shed a lot of blood on September 11.

But we have the antithesis for this. The mouth of the righteous will delver the innocent. The righteous heart can give warning to the innocent as to the intent of the wicked. We know of the wiles of the devil, for we have the word of God to guide us. It is our duty, as brothers in Christ, to spread that Gospel truth. How can the innocent be saved if we do not speak? In a criminal court, one can be held partially responsible if they knew of a murder and did nothing to save the victim. How much more responsible should we be if we do not save the soul of the innocent? The innocent that if taken down by the wicked will be infected and himself become wicked. People need an alternative. We need to be that alternative. We need to speak that alternative.

Thoughts of the Righteous and the Wicked (Proverbs 12:5)

In the mind of the righteous, thoughts of good and not of evil reside. But in the mind of the wicked, the reverse can be found.

"The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous." Proverbs 12:5

When reading this verse, I do not feel that there is much to offer in way of interpretation. For when you read this verse, it is pretty self evident.

The thoughts that go through the mind of the righteous are good, honest and reliable. It takes an honest man to run a big business, it takes a good man to run this country and it takes a reliable man to lead a family. If any of those things do not exist in any of these men, then what they are placed in charge of will soon fall apart. Honesty and reliability are things that the men and women of this country used to look for in a candidate for president, or a spouse. Our ideals, as a nation, are changing. This nation is slowly falling apart because the thoughts and intents of the hearts of those we have elected to run this nation are treacherous.

Crown of a Husband (Proverbs 12:3)

The wife of a man is placed together with him to be his helpmate. The Lord established marriage to bring together two separate entities and make them one in spirit and heart and mind. The wife plays a very important role in this relationship. She is the bringer of joy and pride to her husband.

"A virtuous and worthy wife - earnest and strong in character - is a crowning joy to her husband, but she who makes him ashamed is a rottenness to his bones." Proverbs 12:4, Amplified

In the last chapter of Proverbs we find the description of the woman of God. Often it is referred to as the Proverbs 31 woman. The purpose of a wife is to bring help to her husband, this is why the institution of marriage was created. The Lord wanted to bring a helpmate for His creation Adam. She was created from a rib bone, close to his heart, under his arm, to come along side him. As she fulfills this role in the marriage relationship, it then becomes a crown of joy to her husband. Notice that it is not the acts that she commits or the role she plays. She becomes the crown of joy upon his head.

The crown sits upon the head of the king, or royalty. Out of all the items of clothing man has worn throughout the years, the crown has been the most ornate and beautiful. Not only is it beautiful but it also proclaims authority. It is a symbol of pride. Only one man in a nation would wear a crown. It distinguished that one man from the rest of the people.

But she can also become a rottenness to his bones. When she does not fulfill her role as a virtuous wife, the becomes a shame to him. It is possible for a woman to be independent in the marriage relationship, but this is not the role she was called to play. From this rottenness springs forth bitterness and resentment. He gets sick thinking about his own wife, because she is no longer his glory, but now she is his undoing.

Ladies, it is so important for you to be that crown of joy for your husband. However, men, we need to be that godly king who deserves that crown of glory. As we pursue Christ, so she will pursue us. Be that man of God we are all called to be.

The Roots of Righteousness (Proverbs 12:3)

To be firmly planted means to have a deep rooting in something. As we grow closer to the Lord our roots grow deeper and deeper into Him so that we will not be easily removed.

"A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall never be moved." Proverbs 12:3, Amplified

When I read this verse I am taken back to the Gospel of Matthew and am reminded of the story of the two builders. One builder built his house on the sand. "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:27, NKJV) Wickedness mimics that sand. Wickedness is never going to be a sure foundation. Wickedness does not look out for the best interest of its host.

In the story of the two builders we find that they both have the same sand, but the righteous one digs down to the rock. It rakes work to be established. Righteousness is not a walk in the park. Even more so that being established on a rock, the righteous flourish and thrive. Their rots grow deeper and deeper into what they believe in. As those roots get deeper, they get stronger. As those roots get stronger they get deeper. The deeper the roots get the closer to water they will become.

Favor (Proverbs 12:2)

To be in favor with the Lord, his heart must be in right standing with the Lord.

"A good man obtains favor of the Lord, but a man of wicked devices He condemns." Proverbs 12:2, Amplified

A good man obtains favor. This word "good" was once used to describe Jesus. Someone had run up to Jesus and called Him "Good Teacher". Jesus turned ad asked why He was called good since there is only One that is good and that is God. (Matthew 19:16, Mark 10:17, Luke 18:18) Being good defines someone that is line with the Lord. When our hearts are aligned with His will, then we can receive the blessing of His favor.

To be of wicked devices means that man is always scheming. The thought of evil is always n his mind. It would be best described as a junkie who is looking for his next score. It does not matter if he got high just two minutes ago, but how long will it be till he gets high again. The idea and planning consume him. The heart of the wicked man, or the one with wicked devices, works the same way. To have our hearts constantly turned toward sin is to invite the judgement of the Lord upon us, and that judgement if condemnation.

But we who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior know that there is no condemnation in Him. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV)

The Art of Correction (Proverbs 12:1)

Correction is a wonderful thing to have in out lives. It keeps us on our toes. Without correction, we would continue to make the same mistakes.

"Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating." Proverbs 12:1, Amplified

To love instruction and correction is to love knowledge as this verse implicates. The Bible is a tool that the Christian can use for the purposes of instruction and correction. Jesus, in His ministry, corrected the religious leaders on a daily basis, because their hearts were clouded with pride. The Lord does not wish to correct us because He is a tyrant, but rather because He loves us. We need to embrace that correction and instruction.

To hate these things is be stupid. Stupidity comes in many different forms, however, the one that places the soul in jeopardy is the hatred of instruction and correction. To not receives these things keeps our hearts in a misguided walk. Our hearts will never be clean if we do not allow the correction of the Lord. The hardheartedness of the Jews caused the Gospel to go the Gentiles. The hatred of instruction and correction caused the Jews to shout, "His blood be on us and our children!" (Matthew 27:28)

Instruction and correction are designed to make us better people in general. To receive instruction and correction from the Lord makes us better servants.

Just Payment (Proverbs 11:31)

There will be payment for our actions on this earth, for the sinner and the saint alike.

"Behold, the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be recompensed one earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! [And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the wicked?]" Proverbs 11:31, Amplified

If the righteous are promised recompense while still on this earth, then how much more true is this for the wicked and the ungodly. To put forth an analogy I would have to say that every man is given the same building materials. What type of shelter he chooses to build is complete his choosing. The type of foundation is solely on his shoulders. It is like the man that built on the rock and the other that built on the sand in Matthew chapter six. Both built houses, but one withstood the trials of this life, the other fell.

The second part of this verse has perplexed me. The brackets indicate it is an addition that was not there. The amplified version attributes this to First Peter 4:18, "If the righteous is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?" (NKJV) Peter pulled this from Proverbs 11:31. It is a but confusing. Here we have a verse in the Old Testament that attributes its contents to a book in the New Testament. And we have a book in the New Testament attributing its contents to a book in the Old Testament. A bit circular.

I read many different version of Proverbs 11:31 and none read like I Peter 4:18. The answer is quite simple. Though Proverbs speaks about recompense and Peter speaks about salvation, the contents of both are almost identical in idea and substance. The righteous will be recompensed and so will the sinner; is the righteous are barely saved then what about the sinner? We have to remember as well that the Bible has gone through many different translations. Peter was a Jew who spoke and read Hebrew, it is quite possible that this is how the verse in its original context read. In either case, the Holy Spirit allowed for two different versions of this one verse to appear in the context of the Bible.

The recompense of the righteous is that salvation as though through fire. And if the righteous are barely saved then the recompense of the sinner will surely be death.

The Winning of Souls (Proverbs 11:30)

It is our soul purpose of Christians to win souls to Christ. We are called to spread the Gospel. Long before Christ came to the earth, Solomon understood the saving of souls.

"The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives for God [as a fisher of men] - he gathers and receives them for eternity." Proverbs 11:30, Amplified

Every tree is known by its fruit. One can walk up to a tree and partake of its fruit. At the first bite he can ascertain if he fruit is good or not. The same goes for the Christian. There are those who don the title of Christian and those who actually live the life of a Christian. "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Matthew 6:17, NKJV)

Solomon understood the importance of bearing good fruit. But he also understood the mission of the one belonging to God. That mission is to save souls. "The He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" (Matthew 4:19, NKJV) Jesus called the twelve just as He calls us, for His purpose. "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more..." (I Corinthians 9:19, NKJV) "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20, NKJV)

As a good tree, we must use our fruit to win over those who are lost, turn the stray back to the past of the truth. Fish bite the hook simply because they want what is on the end of it. Live your life like you believe and others will want what you have. My analogy is a little misguided because these fishermen that Jesus called used nets. If the net is thrown, we must understand that something will always be drawn in. We must, however, have the faith to throw the net.

Trouble in the House (Proverbs 11:29)

The foolish person will never be entrusted with a responsibility so they will always be the servant and never the master.

"He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart." Proverbs 11:29, Amplified

To cause trouble to one's own house is a foolish thing to do. There is neither peace nor rest in a troubled house. Troubling one's own house is to inherit the wind. To try and catch the wind is futile. To try and harness the power of the wind or to control the wind is useless. No man can ever hold the wind in his hand and call it servant; no man can ever be master over the wind.

There is a book, eventually made into a movie, entitled "Inherit the Wind". The book is the story about the school system adopting the practice of teaching evolution to the children. It eventually became a court case and the side of evolution won. The book was called this because to teach children about evolution, that they are cosmic mistakes instead of intelligently designed beings is to trouble our house.

Then Solomon links the service of the fool to the inheritance of the wind. It is interesting how he does so. The inheritor of the wind is a foolish person. He will be a servant to the man with the true inheritance; the wise man. The wise man has a very tangible inheritance that he will use to lord over the fool. And please do not misunderstand; I do not mean that the wise are lords over fools, rather they take the place of master over those with less intelligence, possessions and position.

Firmly Planted (Proverbs 11:28)

Riches can get you so far in this life, but what good are they to you after you die?

"He who leans on, trusts and is confident in his riches shall fall, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like a green bough." Proverbs 11:28, Amplified

Riches are not the thing that one should rely on at all. If anything, our economy at this moment in time has taught me that money is unreliable. But the human being is a very physical creature who tends to trust in what he can see. It is amazing though that man is putting his trust in something he truly cannot see. Most of the money in America exists as a blip on a computer screen. What man is placing his trust in is the effects of the money that he has, not the actual money itself.

But the righteous man places his trust in the Lord and he flourishes. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV) The righteous man knows where to place his trust and he flourishes as a result of that trust.

Notice the stark difference between the two: the man who trust in his money trusts the effects of his money, the man who trusts in the Lord his life is effected. Trusting in the Lord will always bring forth a change in the life of a person. Money, and it s effects, are based on an unstable economy. The value of money constantly changes but the value of the Lord has remained consistently the same throughout time.

The Seekers (Proverbs 11:27)

The Bible promises that if we seek after the good we will be blessed.

"He who diligently seeks good seeks [God's] favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come upon him." Proverbs 11:27, Amplified

To seek after good is to seek favor from the Lord. We are told in the Bible that there is only One that is good and that is God (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19). Searching for good is to search out the heart of God. Life is so much more blessed if we search for good.

But when evil is searched out we are promised not that we will find it, but that it will come upon us. There is one thing to find something and there is another to have it find you. AS our heart turns away from the Lord we loose the element of surprise and our senses get dull. Evil will have the upper hand.

Less is More (Proverbs 11:24-26)

It is a spiritual truth that if you give, more will be given back to you. A miserly soul wastes away in its own selfishness. But the generous soul thrives in riches as it gives. Now do not get me wrong or misunderstand what I am trying to say. The economy of the Lord does not mean that if you give a dollar, two more dollars will be given to you. How the economy of the Lord works is this: as you bless others, you too will also be blessed.

"There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it tends only to want more." Proverbs 11:24, Amplified

I like the wording that Solomon uses in this verse. In the idea of scattering, one does not know how much he will let go of. The one who scatters reaches into his bag, gets a handful of whatever is there and tosses without thinking of how much is really being let go of. Generosity of the key, however.

But to withhold more than we should only results in our need for more growing. I think the most well known story in the Bible is that of Ananias and Saphira in the the book of Acts. In chapter 5, Ananias and his wife Saphira conspire with each other to sell their property and give it to the church, but to lie about how much they sold it for so they could keep more. In this conspiracy against the Lord and the church, they both died.

"Cast your bread upon the water, for you will find it after many days." (Ecclesiastes 11:1, NKJV) Casting one's bread on the water causes it to be destroyed. I remember having a lunch that I took to a cross-country track meet in Walnut, California. My water bottle had opened and soaked my sandwiches and chips. My lunch was ruined by the water. You throw your bread on the water with the intent of not receiving it back. But the promise of the Lord is that you will find it after many days. It will come back because generosity os always rewarded.

"The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered." Proverbs 11:25, Amplified

This liberal person is not a Democrat. This person is liberal with his possessions. In the second part of the verse, it talks about watering. This is giving of yourself to others. The Lord would never allow us to give and give and give and give of ourselves without ourselves being refreshed. Every lake needs an outlet. With that outlet it also needs and inlet. The two work together in tandem. If the lake were to only have an outlet then it would soon dry up and be on no use to anyone. If the lake (or body of water) were to only have an inlet, it would become stagnant and of no use to anyone like the Dead Sea. So the two are so very important.

"The people will curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it]; but a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it." Proverbs 11:26, Amplified

This is a very important verse for us to have in front of us. Notice that this verse does not speak about giving generously, it speaks about selling generously. There is an important place for the selling of our goods just as there is a place for giving freely. The blessings still exist for the seller and the giver alike. The idea is that we have in our hearts that the Lord will always take care of us when we give or sell out of our abundance; the Lord will always replace what has left our storehouses.

"But I say this: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (II Corinthians 9:6-7, NKJV)

The End of Things (Proverbs 11:23)

Whatever task we do or whatever path we take, it brings us to an end. For the righteous, it is good; for the wicked, it is bad.

"The desire of the [consistently] righteous brings only good, but the expectation of the wicked brings wrath." Proverbs 11:23, Amplified

In the heart of the righteous, only good is conceived. It is in the power and plan of the righteous to bring about a good end. However, the wicked have only evil on their heart continually. I do not believe that this wrath spoken of by Solomon is at all earthly. In the end, all will have to answer for their deeds. For the righteous, heaven awaits. Hell and eternal separation and the wrath of God await the wicked man.

Beautiful Pig (Proverbs 11:22)

Discretion is such a wonderful thing to possess. In our America today I think that it is the one of the many things that is not being taught to our children.

"As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion." Proverbs 11:22, Amplified

This has got to be one of my favorite verses in the Proverbs. What Solomon is trying to convey here is beauty out of place.

Gold is a very precious metal. Even today it holds a high value. Why would anyone place that value in the nose of a pig? The pig is an animal that is synonymous with the non-kosher laws of the Jews. It was is a dirty animal. When the gold is placed in the snout of the swine, that value is compromised.

The same can be said of a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. Imagine a gorgeous woman at a gathering. As she walks the breeze plays with her hair. Every bit of her person is pure perfection. She is glancing over the crowd and then she picks you. Out of all the men at this gathering, this beautiful woman picks you. Your heart skips a few beats and your fingertips get a little tingly. She comes close to you and leans in to your face. Then she burps! The onions on her burger that she had for lunch are unmistakable. Or she begins a tirade of profanities for all to hear. Her beauty now becomes misplaced and compromised. She is not so beautiful anymore.

Litmus Test for the Heart (Proverbs 11:16-21)

In this next culmination of verses, Solomon stresses again the importance of righteousness. Righteousness will always lead to life, but wickedness will always lead to death.

"A gracious and good woman wins honor [for her husband], and violent men win riches; [but a woman who hates righteousness is a throne of dishonor for him]." Proverbs 11:16, Amplified

This is the first time in the book of Proverbs that Solomon references women. I like the fact that the first reference is in regard to a wife. It is so important that the relationship between a husband and wife be in good standing. I am reminded of the movie "The Taming of the Shrew" with Elizabeth Taylor. This man took this obstinate woman who did not bring any honor to her father and turned her into a loving wife who brought honor to her husband.

A violent and wicked man will always have his eyes on another prize: riches. Riches are the main concern of the wicked in this life, but the righteous man has other concerns. The righteous man can be content and poor if he were to have a gracious and good wife. But the wicked man will never be at peace with his own soul, though he obtain all the riches of this life.

"The merciful, kind and generous man benefits himself [for his deeds return to bless him], but he who is cruel and callous [to the wants of others] brings on himself retribution." Proverbs 11:17, Amplified

There are those in this life who live blessed lives simply because they bless others. To here the cry of the poor and destitute and reach out one's hand in compassion is a truly blessed life. This is the man whose concern is less for himself. There is an epidemic of "Meism" running about the world where people think that the center of the universe is themselves.

But the man who turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the cry and condition of the less fortunate will have a life that is less blessed.

"A wicked man earns deceitful wages, but he who sows righteousness [moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation] shall have a sure reward - permanent and satisfying." Proverbs 11:18, Amplified

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Galatians 6:8, NKJV) This is a spiritual truth in any nation culture or tongue. The man who is concerned more about riches is not concerned with how he obtains wealth, only that he get that wealth. Whether by honest and hard work or by dishonest means, his eyes are fixed on one prize. This is the same man that we found in verse sixteen earlier in this chapter of Proverbs. For the man who sows to the Spirit will receive everlasting life.Is there anything more satisfying and permanent for us than everlasting life?

Remember that the actions of a man reflect the nature and condition of his heart.

"He who is steadfast in righteousness - uprightness and right standing with God - shall attain life, and he who pursues evil does it till his own death." Proverbs 11:19, Amplified

This is what we just covered in the previous verse. If we are right with God we shall attain life for ever in the hereafter. But there are those who are not content with that. They must pursue evil till the day they die. The condition of the heart of a man who is not in right standing with God is atrophied. His own deeds will bring about his own demise.

They who are willfully contrary in heart are extremely disgusting and shamefully vile in the eyes of the Lord, but such as are blameless and wholehearted in their ways are His delight!" Proverbs 11:20, Amplified

I always enjoyed the word "wholehearted". It reminds me of humanity as it tries to fill itself with more and more evil. The man who does not know God will never truly be wholehearted; his heart will constantly be in pieces, always broken. But when the Lord gets a hold of us, then He takes the pieces and fills in the gaps and makes us truly wholehearted.

But to know what is right in the eyes of the Lord and be contrary to that is a bad place for us to be. Those who are in this place are vile to the Lord. "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16, NKJV) This is a message from the Lord to His own church, the lukewarm church. This is the man who is vile to the Lord, the man who is willfully contrary to the Lord. Is that this what we are producing in the Lord, a need to vomit us out?

"Assuredly - I pledge it - the wicked shall not go unpunished, but the multitude of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be delivered." Proverbs 11:21, Amplified

solomon ends this list of verses with a promise. The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be delivered. It is time for a heart check. In these last few verses, we have a great litmus test. Check your heart brothers and sisters.

Cosigning (Proverbs 11:15)

The Bible uses a term called "surety". Surety is when you take financial responsibility for someone else. It sounds kind of odd, but it even takes place today in our society, it is called cosigning. When you cosign, you give the ability for the creditor to take away from you for the irresponsible actions of the other individual. Surety is highly frowned upon by God.

"He who becomes security for an outsider shall smart for it, but he who hates suretyship is secure [from all penalty]." Proverbs 11:15, Amplified

To become that security for another person takes in essence takes the responsibility of payment away from that person. I am in no way condemning anyone who needs a cosigner or has been a cosigner; nor am I saying that all who need a cosigner skip out on their responsibility. In cosigning we open ourselves up the the penalty of nonpayment. We become the debtor instead. The bank will receive its money one way or the other.

I feel that the reason for the hatred of suretyship is due to the fact that we become a cheap imitation of Jesus Christ. He became our surety for nonpayment. There is no way that any man could pay the price for sin, so He became our cosigner. The debt that once belonged to humanity now rested on the shoulders of he Son of God. Jesus was able to give up because He was able to take back. We, once the papers are signed, relinquish all rights and cannot take anything back that is taken from us. Jesus desires for every man to take responsibility for his actions.

If we are to have a healthy view of security, then we understand that we have power over it. When the opportunity comes we have the right and the obligation to say no. Once that word leaves our lips, then we will not suffer the consequences of our friend's (or family's) nonpayment.

Wise Counsel (Proverbs 11:14)

It is so important to have wise counsel in our lives. If we go about thinking that we know it all and do not need the help then we will be doomed to destruction.

"Where no wise guidance is, the people will fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14, Amplified

This wise counsel that we surround ourselves with can come in many different shapes and forms. The first thing that comes to mind is of course the Lord. Our pastor tells us almost every service, "Read your Bible and pray everyday." There are so many wise words within the text of the Bible; something for everyone and everything. Even the president of our United States surrounds himself with wise counsel of different sorts. I tell you it is near impossible to make a wrong decision in the midst of many counselors.

We are promised, though, that if we do not seek out wise counsel that we will fall. So I encourage the reader to seek out wise counsel. Do not just read my words but seek out other people's as well.